Nasiruddin Patwari, chief coordinator of the National Citizens Party (NCP) and candidate for Dhaka-8 under the Jamaat-led 10-party alliance, has accused the Election Commission (EC) of failing to issue a show-cause notice to BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman despite what he described as a direct violation of the electoral code of conduct. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday after receiving his election symbol at the Dhaka Divisional Commissioner’s office, Patwari alleged that Rahman recently visited the Korail slum and promised to build flats for residents, which he said breached election laws.

Patwari claimed the EC was applying double standards, saying other candidates such as Nahid Islam had been show-caused for lesser actions while Rahman faced no consequences. He further alleged that the administration and BNP were working together, undermining the fairness of the Dhaka-8 election. Patwari also criticized the media for not covering such irregularities, claiming that many outlets were under political influence.

He warned that the EC’s inaction and perceived bias could lead to a repeat of past controversial commissions, raising concerns about the credibility of the upcoming election.

Former BNP joint secretary general Aslam Chowdhury has issued a written statement denying any involvement of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in the killing of a Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) member in Sitakunda’s jungle area. He stated that reports and propaganda linking BNP to the incident are completely false, fabricated, baseless, and part of a deliberate political scheme.

In his statement, Chowdhury expressed deep sorrow over the killing, describing it as a brutal and heartbreaking act of violence. He extended condolences to the family of the slain RAB member and urged authorities to identify the perpetrators quickly and bring them to justice with exemplary punishment.

The statement comes amid media reports and discussions attempting to connect the opposition party to the incident, which Chowdhury dismissed as politically motivated misinformation.

The Zoology Department of Dhaka University is facing controversy over the recruitment of three lecturers in Parasitology, Fisheries, and Wildlife branches. According to administrative sources, candidate recommendations have been finalized following oral exams held on November 27, 2025, and the final approval awaits the university syndicate’s next meeting. Allegations have surfaced that several candidates were favored due to political connections and influence rather than merit.

Reports claim that Jannatun Nahar Jhinuk, recommended for Parasitology, is linked to former BUET Chhatra League leader Aminul Haque Palash, who allegedly used his influence from abroad to support her appointment. Professor Aminul Islam Bhuiyan, a member of the recruitment board, denied the allegations, asserting that Jhinuk was academically superior. In the Wildlife branch, candidate Ashiqur Rahman Sami, reportedly an aide to an interim government adviser, was recommended despite lower academic results. In Fisheries, Anika Tabassum, ranked fifth, was also nominated, prompting complaints from other candidates.

University officials stated that the recruitment process followed academic merit and that final approval depends on the syndicate’s decision.

Thousands of people across the United States protested on Tuesday against President Donald Trump’s immigration policy. The demonstrations were organized by labor unions, leftist groups, and civic organizations, taking place in cities and university campuses nationwide. The protests followed weeks of unrest sparked by the fatal shooting of a man by a federal agent in Minneapolis. Hundreds gathered in Washington, while smaller cities such as Asheville, North Carolina, also saw rallies.

Protesters voiced opposition to federal immigration enforcement, chanting slogans against ICE and other agencies. The Trump administration defended its deportation policy as part of its electoral mandate. However, recent opinion polls cited in the report indicated that most Americans oppose the use of force by immigration and federal officers against undocumented immigrants.

Students from several universities joined the demonstrations, with participants in Cleveland, Ohio, and Santa Fe, New Mexico, walking out of classes to attend rallies. Additional gatherings were planned in cities including San Francisco and Seattle.

Bangladesh’s Election Commission has finalized 1,967 candidates to contest in 300 parliamentary constituencies after 305 individuals withdrew their nominations on Tuesday, the last day for withdrawal. The final list includes 290 candidates from the BNP, 216 from Jamaat-e-Islami, 30 from the National Citizens Party (NCP), 259 from Islami Andolan Bangladesh, 196 from Jatiya Party, and 92 from Gano Adhikar Parishad. More than 300 independent candidates will also compete, including over 50 described as BNP rebels and former minister Abdul Latif Siddique, who is running independently.

According to the Election Commission, returning officers will allocate election symbols to candidates on Wednesday. Registered political parties will receive their official symbols, while independent candidates will choose from a list of approved symbols. If multiple candidates select the same symbol, allocation will be decided by lottery.

With symbol distribution set for today, the official campaign period begins tomorrow, marking the start of the final phase of election preparations across the country.

Three senior leaders of the US Catholic Church have issued a joint statement sharply criticizing the Trump administration’s foreign policy, questioning America’s moral role in global politics. The Archbishops of Washington, Newark, and Chicago—Cardinals Robert McElroy, Joseph Tobin, and Blase Cupich—expressed deep concern over the ethical justification for the use of military power in recent events involving Venezuela, Ukraine, and Greenland. They stated that military action should be a last resort in extreme circumstances, not a routine tool of national policy.

The cardinals avoided partisan analysis but their remarks were seen as a reflection of growing dissatisfaction within the Church toward national leadership under Trump. Their statement referenced controversies surrounding threats to seize Greenland, naval operations against Venezuela, and the detention of President Nicolás Maduro without congressional approval. Pope Leo XIV also urged respect for Venezuela’s sovereignty and emphasized dialogue over violence, while warning that Trump’s peace plan for Ukraine could alter transatlantic alliances.

Cardinal Cupich further noted concern over the decision to dismantle USAID, a long-standing humanitarian agency. The cardinals warned that force-based global systems undermine nations’ sovereignty, calling the administration’s moral outlook “Darwinian.”

India has decided to recall the family members of its diplomats stationed in Bangladesh, citing security reasons. The country has also designated Bangladesh as a ‘non-family posting’ for its diplomatic staff. Despite this move, India’s High Commission in Dhaka and its Assistant High Commissions in Chattogram, Khulna, Rajshahi, and Sylhet will remain open and continue normal operations, according to a report by the Hindustan Times.

The report, quoting unnamed sources, stated that the decision had been under consideration for some time due to the overall security situation. As part of the process, officials working in the mentioned missions have been advised to send their families back to India. However, no specific timeline has been set for when the families will return, and details about the number of Indian diplomats currently serving in Bangladesh were not disclosed.

The move comes just weeks before Bangladesh’s national election, scheduled for February 12, 2026, suggesting heightened caution by India regarding the security environment in the neighboring country.

Iranian authorities have initiated the punishment process for individuals detained during recent anti-government protests across the country. Judiciary chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei announced on January 19 that judicial operations have been intensified, warning that leniency toward those deemed undeserving would contradict justice. The government has also restricted internet access nationwide, citing security concerns, after briefly restoring partial connectivity the previous day.

Mohseni-Ejei met with President Masoud Pezeshkian and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf before issuing a joint statement pledging strict action against what they called 'murderous and terrorist instigators.' However, they said protesters misled by foreign powers might receive 'Islamic compassion.' Iranian officials again accused the United States and Israel of funding and arming demonstrators. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei claimed that several thousand people were killed in the unrest but attributed the deaths to agents linked to foreign powers rather than state forces.

The protests began on December 28 in Tehran’s downtown commercial district and have led to the arrest or detention of more than 10,000 people, according to estimates cited in the report. Authorities continue to release new arrest data daily.

A senior BNP leader, Fazlul Haque Chumku, aged 52, died in a motorcycle accident on Tuesday night in Patiya upazila of Chattogram. The incident occurred around 9:30 p.m. on the Chattogram–Cox’s Bazar highway near the Badamtal area. Chumku, a resident of Habilasdweep Union and son of the late Abul Hashem, lost control of his motorcycle while trying to save a homeless woman standing in the middle of the road. His friend Mustafa Morshed, who was riding with him, sustained minor injuries.

According to local and eyewitness accounts, Chumku appeared unhurt immediately after the crash and returned home around 8 p.m. Later, he suddenly felt unwell and began vomiting. Family members prepared to take him to the hospital, but he died around 9 p.m. before reaching there. Former Habilasdweep Union Parishad chairman Shafiqul Islam confirmed the sequence of events and described Chumku as a dedicated BNP activist despite holding no current party position.

The accident has drawn local attention due to the circumstances of Chumku’s death while attempting to prevent harm to another person.

Ahead of Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary election, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) faces a major internal challenge as more than fifty rebel candidates continue to contest in various constituencies across the country. Despite the Election Commission’s Tuesday deadline for nomination withdrawal, these candidates did not withdraw, raising concerns about potential impacts on party unity and vote distribution.

According to party sources, many long-time BNP activists were angered after being denied nominations. Some have chosen to run as independents, while others have openly opposed party decisions. The BNP’s election management committee acknowledged that not all aspirants could be nominated due to political and strategic considerations. Although efforts were made to persuade rebels to withdraw, many refused. The party has already expelled several leaders for violating organizational discipline.

Reports from multiple districts show rebel candidates in constituencies such as Barishal-1, Jhalkathi-1, Naogaon-1 and 6, Bagerhat, Cumilla, Tangail, and Narayanganj, among others. Party insiders fear that the popularity of these local leaders could split BNP’s vote base in key areas.

Abul Kalam Azad, a former member of Jamaat-e-Islami sentenced to death for crimes against humanity during Bangladesh’s Liberation War, appeared before the International Crimes Tribunal on Wednesday morning to surrender. He had been a fugitive since the tribunal handed down the death sentence on January 21, 2013, under the leadership of then-chairman Justice Obaidul Hassan.

According to a government order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (Prisons-2 branch) on October 22 of the previous year, Azad’s sentence was suspended for one year on the condition that he surrender to the court and file an appeal. The order temporarily halted the execution of his punishment to allow for legal proceedings.

The tribunal’s acceptance of his surrender marks a significant development in a long-running war crimes case that had remained unresolved due to his fugitive status.

Maulana Azharul Islam, president of Islami Andolan’s Ward No. 5 and vice-president of the upazila unit in Charfassion, Bhola, has joined Jamaat-e-Islami. The announcement was made on Tuesday night by Zainal Abedin Bhuiyan, a member of the Charfassion municipal Jamaat working committee. According to the report, Azharul Islam completed Jamaat’s membership form on Monday before formally joining the party.

The source states that Maulana Azharul Islam had been active in Islami Andolan politics under the leadership of the Charmonai Pir for a long time, holding various responsibilities in Charfassion. He said he joined Jamaat-e-Islami inspired by the party’s ideology and principles. Maulana Abbas Uddin, secretary of Islami Andolan’s Bhola South district unit, confirmed that Azharul Islam was part of the organization’s previous committee but not the current one.

The development marks a shift in local political alignment in Charfassion, as a senior Islami Andolan leader transitions to Jamaat-e-Islami, potentially influencing future political dynamics in the area.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman posted a message on his Facebook page on Tuesday night calling on all concerned to refrain from any activities that could disrupt the voting environment in Dhaka-15 constituency. He expressed hope that good sense would prevail among those involved.

Earlier, a clash broke out between activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in front of Al Mobarak Mosque in Pirerbag under Mirpur Model Police Station during leaflet distribution for the upcoming national election. At least 16 people were initially reported injured. The army and police quickly arrived at the scene and brought the situation under control.

Following the incident, Jamaat activists held a protest and rally demanding the immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of the attackers. The procession started in front of Pirerbag Paka Mosque and ended at Barek Molla Mor with a gathering attended by several local Jamaat leaders.

BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas advised leaders of the National Citizen Party (NCP) to learn politics and focus on the country’s development. He made the remarks on Tuesday at a discussion meeting held at the Diploma Engineers Institution auditorium in Dhaka. Abbas said young leaders should avoid wrongdoing and that his party would support them if they engage in positive political activities.

Referring to the post-liberation period, Abbas stated that after the war, his generation returned to studies and work without seeking ministerial positions, unlike what he described as greed among some current leaders. He contrasted the roles of freedom fighters and those who fought to remove oppressive forces, asserting that his generation had also overthrown autocratic regimes in the past.

Abbas further emphasized his lifelong commitment to protecting Bangladesh’s independence and sovereignty, vowing not to let the country fall into the hands of deceivers or opportunists.

Dhaka city north unit of Jamaat-e-Islami held a protest rally in Mirpur on Tuesday night demanding the immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of those who carried out an armed attack on its activists. The rally followed an alleged assault that occurred when Jamaat members were leaving a mosque after Maghrib prayers. Shah Alam Tuhin, a member of the party’s Dhaka north executive committee, accused BNP and Jubo Dal activists of launching the attack and called on authorities to ensure justice.

The protest march began in front of Pirerbag Paka Mosque and ended at Barek Molla Mor with a gathering attended by several local Jamaat leaders. Tuhin alleged that the attackers acted out of political desperation and that law enforcement failed to act impartially. He claimed that even female Jamaat activists were assaulted and criticized the government for not taking effective measures to stop such violence.

Jamaat’s Dhaka north unit announced another protest march for Wednesday morning at Barek Molla Mor to condemn the attack and the reported harassment of female activists.